Okay...(drum roll)...here's the deal: finally no distortion, no splatter. The Darkstar has tamed the beast. Finally the HE-6 sounds like a world class headphone! Stressed the hell out of the amp with the usual classical music suspects: Wagner overtures (Telarc label - Cincinnati orchestra conducted by Jesus Lopez Cobos) and the Dies Irae from Verdi's Requiem (Telarc label - Robert Shaw recording)...amazing sound. I am using the oppo bdp95 as source connected to the amp via di marzio balanced cables. The HE-6 is connected to the amp via moon audio silver balanced cable. Then my one year old woke up crying to ruin my fun. Since my wife has been milling about my listening area with baby in tow I was forced to switch to closed cans and, not surprisingly, that's where the amp's limitations reared their ugly heads. With the th900s the sound was kinda weird...not expansive, not blooming, kind of claustrophobic, and generally blah/humdrum (and a faint hiss to boot). With the ath3000Anv things improved considerably and I didn't notice the hiss...but the Burson soloist and Grace 902b do a much better job. I'm just hoping that the darkstar is no one trick pony. But I didn't buy it for closed cans...just did it out of curiosity given the kid and wife needing some quiet. Tomorrow I'm hoping to try the HD-800s, T1s, LCD-2s, and AKG701s, not to mention some more of the HE-6. The amp is not really dark...it's very balanced sounding with extended highs and tight, clean bass with the HE-6s. These are just preliminary impressions, but appears to do very well what I bought it for: to tame the beast. Receivers may do a better job in the opinion of others, but I'm playing for keeps with this one. Will keep you guys posted as I try my other headphones. This is a triumph paired with the HE-6 as far as I am concern. Some people have raved about how it sounds driving the HD-800 and T1...I shall find out tomorrow. Looks like the quest is over, boys...the soap opera is coming to an end...and guess what...it was the darkstar who shot JR Ewing! Time to put down the popcorn and grab the Tums!Edited by figaro69 - 3/14/13 at 9:54pm

Okay...(drum roll)...here's the deal: finally no distortion, no splatter. The Darkstar has tamed the beast. Finally the HE-6 sounds like a world class headphone! Stressed the hell out of the amp with the usual classical music suspects: Wagner overtures (Telarc label - Cincinnati orchestra conducted by Jesus Lopez Cobos) and the Dies Irae from Verdi's Requiem (Telarc label - Robert Shaw recording)...amazing sound. I am using the oppo bdp95 as source connected to the amp via di marzio balanced cables. The HE-6 is connected to the amp via moon audio silver balanced cable. Then my one year old woke up crying to ruin my fun. Since my wife has been milling about my listening area with baby in tow I was forced to switch to closed cans and, not surprisingly, that's where the amp's limitations reared their ugly heads. With the th900s the sound was kinda weird...not expansive, not blooming, kind of claustrophobic, and generally blah/humdrum (and a faint hiss to boot). With the ath3000Anv things improved considerably and I didn't notice the hiss...but the Burson soloist and Grace 902b do a much better job. I'm just hoping that the darkstar is no one trick pony. But I didn't buy it for closed cans...just did it out of curiosity given the kid and wife needing some quiet. Tomorrow I'm hoping to try the HD-800s, T1s, LCD-2s, and AKG701s, not to mention some more of the HE-6. The amp is not really dark...it's very balanced sounding with extended highs and tight, clean bass with the HE-6s. These are just preliminary impressions, but appears to do very well what I bought it for: to tame the beast. Receivers may do a better job in the opinion of others, but I'm playing for keeps with this one. Will keep you guys posted as I try my other headphones. This is a triumph paired with the HE-6 as far as I am concern. Some people have raved about how it sounds driving the HD-800 and T1...I shall find out tomorrow. Looks like the quest is over, boys...the soap opera is coming to an end...and guess what...it was the darkstar who shot JR Ewing! Time to put down the popcorn and grab the Tums!

Oh my God! The Darkstar does work its magic with the HD800 and T1. I have never heard these headphones sound this good! The HD800 sound dark (but the treble is in no way rolled of), authoritative, and he-man like. While still not for bassheads, great quality to the bass. I once thought the Decware CSP2 and Taboo tube amps paired wonderfully with the Hd800s...but the darkstar beats them handily...the once somewhat wimpy, brittle sounding headphones have now become boss mucho macho headphones! The same goes for the T1s. Again, dark sounding and authoritative. This headphone amp simply rules with the HE-6, T1, and HD800s. While the amp kind of sucks with the th900 and ath3000Anv (which was expected anyway...no surprises there given the raw power of the amp) it's no one trick pony. Now on to the LCD2 and AKG701.

I have just received this Unison Research Simply Two tube amplifier. It is Italian, and I will have to change the fuse before I can use it in Canada. I have already purchased many NOS tubes as well as Herbie dampers. I can't wait to see the results with the HE-6 and HD800. The tubes inside the amplifier right now are Mullard EL34's (XF2's) and Telefunken 12AU7's. The Valvo CCa isn't meant for this amp but it fills the hole in the box.

I have also purchased a HiFiMAN HE-adapter as this is originally a speaker amplifier.

Oh my God! The Darkstar does work its magic with the HD800 and T1. I have never heard these headphones sound this good! The HD800 sound dark (but the treble is in no way rolled of), authoritative, and he-man like. While still not for bassheads, great quality to the bass. I once thought the Decware CSP2 and Taboo tube amps paired wonderfully with the Hd800s...but the darkstar beats them handily...the once somewhat wimpy, brittle sounding headphones have now become boss mucho macho headphones! The same goes for the T1s. Again, dark sounding and authoritative. This headphone amp simply rules with the HE-6, T1, and HD800s. While the amp kind of sucks with the th900 and ath3000Anv (which was expected anyway...no surprises there given the raw power of the amp) it's no one trick pony. Now on to the LCD2 and AKG701.

I am happy for you sir. The meet impressions giving less than stellar reviews are now suspect to me. While not always the case, more power is a good thing. Is this hobby awesome or what?

I don't know what people were hearing in those meets. Frankly, I think it was the hefty price that turned people off as well as the bling factor. Also people based their opinions on what they considered to be bad measurements. This amp really rocks...suddenly, the headphone I hated the most in my stable (the HE-6) has become my favorite one!!! The combo has the WOW factor in spades.

Oh my God! The Darkstar does work its magic with the HD800 and T1. I have never heard these headphones sound this good! The HD800 sound dark (but the treble is in no way rolled of), authoritative, and he-man like. While still not for bassheads, great quality to the bass. I once thought the Decware CSP2 and Taboo tube amps paired wonderfully with the Hd800s...but the darkstar beats them handily...the once somewhat wimpy, brittle sounding headphones have now become boss mucho macho headphones! The same goes for the T1s. Again, dark sounding and authoritative. This headphone amp simply rules with the HE-6, T1, and HD800s. While the amp kind of sucks with the th900 and ath3000Anv (which was expected anyway...no surprises there given the raw power of the amp) it's no one trick pony. Now on to the LCD2 and AKG701.

Glad you are digging the DS.

I read your opinions and they sound very similar to mine with my HE6's, T1's, HD800 and LCD2.2's using my Audio-gd Master-6.

All I would change is the 'dark' description because the Master-6 is very neutral not dark.

yes. Low gain is a relative term in darkstar world. Just a couple of clicks in volume pot and it gets way too high. It feels like way too much power...like putting the engine of a Ferrari inside a Prius. The audio technicas fare better, but the th900s, in my opinion, are a massive disappointment.